Update/18:30: The storehouse fire was fully extinguished. Two fire engines are yet at the scene. The missing woman hasn’t been found.
Update /16:50/: Sixteen firefighting vehicles continue the works to extinguish the fire, wash the affected area and take away the destroyed parts. A team of forensic experts of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service continue to look for the woman who allegedly was in the building that burned for 27 hours.
Update /13:35/: Firefighters have announced that the fire was localized after four teams entered the building to extinguish it from inside. The rescuers are looking for the woman who relatives fear is inside the building.
Update /12.31/: The Civil Protection and Emergencies Service said the body of firemen Ivan Nagailic will be taken to the firefighting unit where he worked at 2pm on November 12 for those who want to bid farewell to him. The unit is located at 3 Hancu St. At about 5pm, the body will be taken to the church situated in the yard of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service based at 69 Gh. Asachi St. The firefighter will be buried with military honors on November 14.
Update /12:10/: The fire on Uzinelor St hasn’t been yet localized after over 24 hours. Twenty firefighting vehicles and over 100 firemen are at the scene. During the night, the firefighters continued to extinguish the fire and cool down the building. It is alleged that one more person is inside the building. The relatives of a woman aged 44 called the 901 service on November 12, saying this could be inside the building. The firemen now cannot enter the building owing to the risk of collapse. These could enter only after geodesists assess the state of the building. The local commission for emergencies is to meet to assess the risk and to ensure monitoring.
Update /09:45/: President Nicolae Timofti transmitted a message of condolence to the family of the fireman who died in the line of duty, saying this is a huge tragedy and an irrecoverable loss not only for the family of this courageous young man and those who knew him, but also for all those who realize the risks posed by the profession of firefighter. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca also offered his condolences, saying it is one more regrettable example that shows how dangerous the profession of fireman is and this man is a hero. The Chisinau City Hall will offer financial support to the fireman’s family.
Update /08:41/: Firemen continue to fight to bring the blaze at the storehouse located at 9 Uzinelor St in Chisinau under control. The fire spread on an area of over 1,000 square meters. Effort is made to cool down the fourth floor and to prevent the fire from spreading to other floors. The operation has lasted for over 20 hours. The Civil Protection and Emergencies Service’s press officer Liliana Puscasu has told IPN highly flammable materials were stored in the building and these hamper the localization of the fire.
Update /19:50/: The fire hasn’t been yet localized. Over 100 firemen and rescuers continue fight the blaze. The firefighters use six ladders to extinguish the fire from outside as there is a danger that the ceiling will collapse inside.
Update /17:50: A number of 100 firemen and rescuers and 25 firefighting vehicles were involved in the operation to extinguish the storehouse fire, with six of these having ladders. The state of the six hospitalized firefighters is satisfactory.
Update /17:30: The over 100 firefighters continue to struggle with the fire that engulfed the storehouse on Uzinelor St. Four more fire engines were sent to the scene. After almost eight hours, the fire hasn’t been yet localized.
Update /15:50: After over six hours, the fire at the storehouse situated on Uzinelor St hasn’t been yet localized. The firemen continue to fight to bring the blaze under control. Fifteen firefighting vehicles are on the scene, five of which have ladders. According to the head of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service Mihai Harabagiu, there is a risk that the ceiling on the fourth floor will collapse.
Update /13.58: Seven firefighters who took part in the extinguishing of the fire on Uzinelor St were taken to the Hospital “Saint Trinity” in Chisinau. Two of them received medical care and could leave, while the others were hospitalized with poisoning. According to the hospital’s press officer Tatiana Gumene, a woman involved in the fire was also brought to them. Her state is grave, but stable.
Update /13.48: The fireman who died on duty - Ivan Nogailic, 28 – had worked at the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service for seven years. His last post was that of team chief at the Rescuers and Firefighters Post of the Service’s National Intervention Center. He had the rank of major sergeant of the rescue service. He was married and had two children. The whole personnel of the Service expressed condolences to the family and close relatives.
Update /12:58: A fireman aged 28, who remained blocked inside the storehouse on Uzinelor St, has died. The information was confirmed by the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service’s press officer Diana Turcan. Two firefighters and three civilians were hospitalized. Practically all the firefighters of Chisinau municipality were mobilized at the scene.
Head of Ciocana district Galina Bostan said that according to her information, there were chemical products inside the storehouse that is rented by business entities.
Prime Minister Pavel Filip called an emergency meeting with officials in charge for 2pm.
Update/ 12:35: The firefighter who got stuck inside the storehouse on Uzinelor St that caught fire this morning has been evacuated. The man, who apparently was unconscious, was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. Before this, the ambulance crew performed resuscitation maneuvers.
Four persons, including a fireman, were rushed to the hospital after they inhaled fumes in a fire that engulfed a storehouse located on Uzinelor St in Chisinau. Another fireman remained inside.
Press officer of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service Diana Turcan has told IPN that three persons were evacuated from the burning building. A firefighter who inhaled fumes also needed medical care. One more fireman was blocked inside the storehouse.
---
Contacted by IPN, spokeswoman for the National Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine Center Diana Blanaru said the four persons were given first aid and were then taken to the Municipal Hospital “Saint Trinity”. Their state is medium grave.
The fire was declared of level three, which is the highest one. Fourteen fire engines with two ladders were on the scene immediately. There were mainly toys in the storehouse. No casualties were reported.
The 901 firefighting service was called at about 10am on November 11. It hasn’t been yet fully extinguished.
